Urban Control, a leading provider of smart city solutions, has embedded ALASKA, a Lightweight Machine to Machine (LwM2M) platform from IoTerop, a leader in IoT device management, to manage its smart city devices. The first implementation of this platform is the Urban Node 324 cellular IoT streetlight controller, launched earlier this month.
LwM2M, uCIFI and TALQ – the importance of standards
Using LwM2M enables Smart Cities to leverage uCIFI, the first unified data model that was created to address IoT interoperability for smart city applications. Additionally, the TALQ Consortium has defined a globally accepted interface standard for smart city device networks, meaning that a single CMS can configure, control, command and monitor heterogeneous smart city device networks. These three standards create a powerful tool that allows Smart Cities to be truly interoperable and scalable. Constrained devices can more easily be connected, and the optimisation of bandwidth makes it more efficient and less expensive to connect. Devices modeled include streetlights, water meters and distribution monitors, waste management devices, parking meters, traffic monitors, air-quality monitors, smart buildings, as well as safety and security devices.
Adherence to globally-recognised standards is imperative, as it allows for the optimisation of bandwidth constraints and provides a reduction of data volume used by urban smart objects. Device security is also a considerable benefit in an era when cyber security has never been so important. ALASKA follows devices throughout their entire lifecycles, from activation to firmware updates to decommissioning, all managed remotely.
“Selecting a LwM2M interface that adheres to global standards was important for us, as it offers our customers game-changing benefits that are important for this specific sector. By selecting IoTerop’s ALASKA, we are empowering our customers to diminish bandwidth usage, decrease their operational uptime by automating operations, and ultimately, rationalise their long-term investment in urban connected solutions,” said Miguel Lira, Innovation and Development Director at Urban Control.
“We understand that security, scalability, and interoperability are crucial aspects for any smart city’s long-term success. By using our ALASKA LwM2M interface, cities will be able to see a much quicker return on investment without the need to deploy a heavy infrastructure. ALASKA will address battery-powered solutions and devices in the most difficult-to-reach places, which are normally costly and logistically challenging to address,” adds Hatem Oueslati, CEO of IoTerop.
About IoTerop
IoTerop is an award-winning provider of IoT device management solutions whose services reduce the challenges of creating and operating economically disruptive IoT solutions. IoTerop’s customers use the IOWA SDK and ALASKA device management platform to develop, operate, and monetise IoT solutions in smart metering, smart lighting, logistics, and other industries. IoTerop’s co-founder David Navarro is an Open Mobile Alliance SpecWorks board member along with representatives from AT&T, Ericsson, T-Mobile, ARM, Itron, and Qualcomm and a significant contributor to the LwM2M standard since 2011.
